California offers option to register to vote online

Not registered to vote? Now you can register online. California officials made it easier than ever and launched an online registration system. They say it could benefit millions of potential voters.

With the general election less than seven weeks away, officials expect the Web feature to benefit millions of Californians who are qualified to vote, but haven't registered.

California joined 11 other states in offering online voter registration. Three of those states have experienced glitches that temporarily crashed their systems.

There's the old-fashioned way of registering to vote: filling out a paper form. Now there's a new way: filling out the voter registration application online and sending it in via computer or smartphone.

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen launched a new online voter registration system a month before the deadline to be able to vote in the presidential election this November.

"The main reason people don't register to vote is simply because they were never asked," said Bowen. "Now asking will just take a quick email or text message."